The first of three twin bills on the "Monday Night Football" schedule saw the New Orleans Saints march to 2-0 with a win over the Carolina Panthers, the Pittsburgh Steelers hold off the Cleveland Browns, and star running back Nick Chubb was carted off the field after suffering a serious leg injury.
Chubb was not the only key player injured Monday night. The player involved in the Chubb injury, Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, also left the game with a chest injury. The Panthers' veteran linebacker Shaq Thompson also suffered what is feared to be a significant injury. Saints running back Jamaal Williams had a hamstring injury and did not return to the Saints' win.
The Steelers defeated the Browns for the 20th straight time at home in the regular season.
Tony Jones Jr. ran for two touchdowns, rookie Blake Grupe kicked two field goals as the Saints beat the Panthers , improving to 2-0 for the first time since 2013.
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Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said after his team's 26-22 loss to the Steelers that he expects Nick Chubb to miss the remainder of the season, though he did not divulge any specific details of the running back's injury.
"Obviously, Nick has got a very significant knee injury. … You feel for the person," Stefanski said. "He's a great football player, as we know, but he's an even better person, so we will support him every step along the way."
The Browns said after the game that Chubb was taken to a local hospital but had been released. — Jon Hoefling
On fourth-and-9, Deshaun Watson passed to wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. Peoples-Jones appeared to get his jersey grabbed by Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. at the end of his route, but officials didn’t throw a flag as the football sailed over Peoples-Jones’ head.
The non-call forced the Browns to turn the ball over on downs with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Steelers took over possession and ran the clock out.
Both teams traded blows in the AFC North thriller. There were a combined six turnovers (four from Cleveland and two from Pittsburgh).
The Browns ended the game with 408 total yards. Pittsburgh produced 255 total yards. Pittsburgh won despite its offense only converting nine first downs. The Steelers defense picked up the slack for the modest offensive production by scoring on a pick-six to begin the game and getting a strip sack scoop and score late in the fourth quarter. ― Tyler Dragon
The Steelers defense made a huge game-changing play when the team needed it.
Deshaun Watson was stripped sacked by Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith on second and nine. The loose football was picked up by outside linebacker T.J. Watt and he returned it 17 yards for the scoop and score.
The touchdown gave the Steelers a 26-22 advantage.
Cleveland has four turnovers in the game.
Highsmith has seven tackles, one sack, one interception and two quarterback hits on the night. ― Tyler Dragon
The Browns and Steelers have traded turnovers tonight.
Bronws tight end David Njoku had the football dislodged from him as he was going to the ground by Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb and it was recovered by Steelers safety Damontae Kazee.
The Browns still have a 22-19 lead despite three turnovers. The Steelers have two turnovers in the game. ― Tyler Dragon
Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson is reportedly out for the season with an ankle injury, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Head coach Frank Reich called the injury "significant" after the team's Monday night loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Thompson was hurt in the first quarter of the matchup. He was getting up from a tackle when a Saints offensive lineman fell on his leg. He was carted off the field.
Last season, the nine-year veteran started all 17 games and led the team with a career-high 135 tackles. — Victoria Hernandez
The Steelers will have to play without one of the best players for the remainder of the game.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was ruled out in the third quarter due to a chest injury, the team announced.
Fitzpatrick had a team-leading six tackles and two pass deflections at the time of his exit. ― Tyler Dragon
Ford is doing his best to replace the injured Nick Chubb.
Ford took a hand off and had no running room to the right, so he cut against the grain and ran 69 yards to the Steelers’ 1-yard line. The Browns scored two plays later on a Pierre Strong Jr. iso run.
The Browns converted a two-point conversion on a Deshaun Watson run to the outside to take a 22-19 lead. ― Tyler Dragon
The New Orleans Saints didn't reach the end zone until late in the third quarter, but two touchdowns from undrafted running back Tony Jones Jr. were enough to beat the Carolina Panthers, 20-17, on the road.
Saints quarterback Derek Carr went 21-of-36 for 228 yards and an interception while his Carolina counterpart rookie Bryce Young went 22-of-33 for 153 yards and a touchdown. Both were sacked four times.
Young led the Panthers to a fourth quarter touchdown and two-point conversion to put Carolina within a score, but the Saints were able to run out the clock on the last drive.
This is the first time the Saints have started a season 2-0 since 2013 when Drew Brees was quarterback.
"I'm excited for our city, I'm excited for New Orleans," Carr said on the ESPN broadcast after the game. "It hasn't been pretty yet. We have a lot to clean up, but we're 2-0 and we feel like we haven't played that well yet. So it's a good feeling." — Victoria Hernandez
The Steelers managed a field goal on their first drive of the second half.
Pittsburgh’s offense went on a nine play, 44-yard drive and kicker Chris Boswell hit a 50-yard field goal to increase the team’s lead, 19-14.
Boswell is a perfect two for two on field goals Monday night. ― Tyler Dragon
The Panthers answered the Saints' first touchdown of the game with their own first trip to the end zone in the fourth quarter.
On first and goal at the Saints' 3-yard line, quarterback Bryce Young found Adam Thielen, who tiptoed into the right corner of the end zone.
Carolina got the two-point conversion where Young juked out the defense by pointing across the field and then throwing the ball the other way to find Thielen again.
The score was set up by a 22-yard pass from Young to Jonathan Mingo. — Victoria Hernandez
The nation anxiously observes star rookie Bryce Young's Week 2 performance for the Carolina Panthers, but an undrafted player is dominating the "firsts" headline.
Saints running back Tony Jones Jr. scored his second touchdown of the night in the fourth quarter, a 2-yard burst. He scored his first career touchdown two drives earlier.
Jones Jr. was signed by New Orleans in 2020 after he went undrafted out of Notre Dame. He played in a handful of games and split time last season with the Seattle Seahawks. He returned to the Saints this fall.
New Orleans is thin at running back as Alvin Kamara is out due to suspension and Jamaal Williams left the game earlier with an injury. — Victoria Hernandez
Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made a 55-yard field with under 30 seconds remaining in the first half to cut Cleveland’s deficit, 16-14.
Hopkins is 2-for-3 on field goal attempts through one half. ― Tyler Dragon
The Steelers have had some great defensive players in franchise history. None of them have more career sacks than pass rusher T.J. Watt.
Watt became the franchise’s all-time sack leader when he took down Browns QB Deshaun Watson on third down late in the second quarter.
The sack gave Watt 81.5 career sacks.
James Harrison was Pittsburgh's previous all-time sack leader with 80.5. ― Tyler Dragon
Rookie Bryce Young has had his work cut out for him in his home debut. The Carolina quarterback has been held to 91 yards through the air and has not reached the end zone.
But one play showed his star power.
On third-and-11 at Carolina's own 33-yard line, Young took the shotgun snap and surveyed the field. He found a gap in the defense, tucked the ball and ran. He scurried over the Panthers logo at midfield for the first down and finally slid for a 26-yard gain. — Victoria Hernandez
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett passed to a wide-open George Pickens over the middle of the field. Pickens hauled in the catch and sprinted all the way down the field for a 71-yard touchdown.
The touchdown was Pickens’ first catch of the night and the first offensive touchdown for Pittsburgh in the game. ― Tyler Dragon
The Saints scored the first touchdown of their Monday night game against the Panthers. Running back Tony Jones Jr. powered through the line of scrimmage for the 2-yard score, the first touchdown of his career.
New Orleans made their way downfield with the help of a monster catch from second-year star Chris Olave. On third-and-7 from their own 28 yard line, quarterback Derek Carr found the former Ohio State standout and launched the ball. Olave reached out in front of Panthers defender CJ Henderson and tipped the ball with one hand. He cradled it with both hands as he fell to the turf for the 42-yard gain. — Victoria Hernandez
After Bryce Young played two and a half quarters in his home debut for the Carolina Panthers, veteran Andy Dalton took his place in the huddle on fourth-and-1.
Dalton didn't even take a snap as the third quarter play resulted in a false start by guard Cade Mays, which made it fourth-and-5.
Carolina opted for a 54-yard field goal, which Eddy Pineiro converted. — Victoria Hernandez
The Browns managed to take the lead in Pittsburgh after the injury to Nick Chubb.
Chubb's replacement in the backfield, second-year running back Jerome Ford, scored on a 3-yard pass play from quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Browns went for two and Ford plowed into the end zone for a successful try.
The Browns drafted Ford in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft out of Cincinnati. Ford played sparingly behind Chubb and Kareem Hunt during the 2022 season, carrying the ball just eight times for 12 yards. ― Jim Reineking
Browns star running back Nick Chubb was carted off the field early in the second quarter with a knee injury.
Chubb was injured when he took a handoff, ran in between the tackles and was hit low by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Chubb and Fitzpatrick were both injured on the play, but Chubb stayed down on the field in what looked like a serious knee injury. When the play was shown on replay at Acrisure Stadium, the crowd had an empathic reaction.
The Browns running back was eventually carted off the field as the Pittsburgh crowd cheered their support as he exited.
The Browns announced later in the second quarter that Chubb is out for the game. ― Tyler Dragon
There was another turnover at the end of the first quarter. In another wild sequence, Browns cornerback Denzel Ward hit Steelers WR Gunner Olszewski as soon as he caught the football and forced a fumble. Grant Delpit picked up the loose football and fumbled it shortly after. The loose football ricocheted off several players before bouncing out of bounds. The officials reviewed the eventful play and ruled Browns ball. ― Tyler Dragon
The Saints are hanging onto a thread of a lead going into the half.
They had a major opportunity to pull away from the Panthers toward the end of the second half when Carl Granderson strip sacked Bryce Young. Saints linebacker Pete Werner attempted to scoop up the ball, but failed to gain control as it slipped through his fingers while he was running.
The ball bounced down the field where Panthers guard Chandler Zavala attempted to leap on it, but it rolled away from his grasp. A bunch of players from both sides then jumped on it. Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo eventually came out of the pile with possession.
On the ensuing drive from their own 41-yardline, New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr threw two incomplete passes and was sacked twice as the Panthers defense forced a punt.
The Saints are up 6-3 at halftime. — Victoria Hernandez
Each team has forced a takeaway in the first quarter. This time it was the Browns. Safety Grant Delpit intercepted a pass thrown by Steelers QB Kenny Pickett. Delpit made a nice play on the football and stepped in front of Steelers WR George Pickens just before the ball got there.
Unfortunately for the Browns, they weren’t able to score any points off the takeaway. Cleveland's offense went three-and-out and kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a 43-yard field goal. ― Tyler Dragon
The New Orleans Saints are thin at running back and got even thinner as Jamaal Williams went to the locker room halfway through the second quarter.
Williams was trying to jog on the sideline and then was escorted to the tunnel by athletic trainers. NFL reporter Field Yates said he suffered a hamstring injury and is questionable to return.
Williams had nine carries for 29 yards before exiting.
Alvin Kamara is sitting out serving a suspension for his involvement in a Las Vegas fight. — Victoria Hernandez
The Browns had the most inopportune start a team can have on the road.
On the first play from scrimmage, Deshaun Watson and tight end Harrison Bryant had some miscommunication on a route. As a result, the pass was a little behind Bryant. The football bounced off Bryant’s hands, then bounced off a Steelers defender before linebacker Alex Highsmith grabbed the ball in the air and returned it for a pick-six. ― Tyler Dragon
Michael Thomas is back to his playmaking ways.
After missing the 2021 season with an ankle injury and only playing in three games last year, the wide receiver made a statement catch on Monday night.
On third-and-9, Derek Carr found him 19 yards downfield against the right sideline. Thomas leaped over defensive back Donte Jackson and snagged the ball.
The initial call was incomplete as Thomas seemingly landed on his behind out of bounds, but review found that he landed in the green turf before sliding out.
The play led to a 23-yard field goal from Blake Grupe after Carr threw two incomplete passes and Taysom Hill lost a few yards on a run play. — Victoria Hernandez
The Browns are in white on Monday night. The Browns will wear white helmets for the first time since 1951. The white uniforms the Browns will sport Monday are a nod to their throwback uniforms from 1946.
"We're super fired up and really excited to have this opportunity to wear an alternate helmet," Browns executive VP JW Johnson said in a statement, per the team’s official website. "We decided to go with the white helmet for a couple reasons — it harkens back to our past, and a lot of our greatest players wore white helmets. We also heard from our fans that it was the direction they wanted. We always want to continue having great fan interaction and deliver for them as much as we possibly can." ― Tyler Dragon
The Panthers defense has been holding strong, led by two early sacks from Frankie Luvu.
The Saints marched down the field and made it as far as Carolina's 8-yard line. But on 3rd and 6, Derek Carr threw an incomplete pass, forcing New Orleans to kick a field goal.
Rookie Blake Grupe nailed the 28-yard kick to tie the game.
The score is 3-3 at the end of the first quarter. — Victoria Hernandez
Shaq Thompson was carted off the field in the first quarter after injuring his leg.
The Panthers linebacker tackled Saints quarterback Taysom Hill. After the play, while he started to get up off the field, Saints offensive tackle Trevor Penning fell on his right leg.
Thompson held a finger up to the sky while being carted off. — Victoria Hernandez
The Saints' first drive ended with Frankie Luvu sacking Derek Carr, leading to a punt.
The Panthers took over at their own 35-yardline for their first offensive appearance of the night.
Bryce Young completed three passes to Adam Thielen in the drive. A false start penalty gave Carolina a setback midway through the drive. A sack and incomplete pass left them with 3rd and 15. Young found Thielen for 10 yards to set up a 52-yard field goal for Eddy Pineiro. — Victoria Hernandez
Rookie quarterback Bryce Young is playing in his first home game for the Carolina Panthers.
Ahead of kickoff, he ran out of the tunnel to loud cheers from Panthers fans dressed in blue and white.
The former Alabama standout received high fives from his new teammates and a hug from tight end Hayden Hurst ahead of the big game. — Victoria Hernandez
Saints vs. Panthers is set to kick off at 7:15 p.m. ET, while the Browns and Steelers will start things off at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Saints vs. Panthers will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2, while Browns vs. Steelers can be seen on ABC and ESPN+.
One Panthers player will be playing with a bit of extra pizzazz in the primetime game.
While warming up for Carolina's Monday night matchup against the Saints, wide receiver DJ Chark showed off his sparkly cleats. The shoes are light blue and have a graphic of his No. 17 at the heel.
After Odell Beckham Jr. made waves with his Randy Moss tribute cleats this season, Chark is coming for the throne. ― Victoria Hernandez
Derek Carr is in his first year with the New Orleans Saints after spending the first nine years of his NFL career with the Las Vegas Raiders. He started the 2023 season by outlasting the Tennessee Titans even without star running back Alvin Kamara.
On ESPN's "Monday Night Countdown," the quarterback reflected on his journey leaving the only team he ever played with.
“When I first left it hurt so much because all you want to do as a quarterback is win a championship for your team, especially a team your dad grew up rooting for,” he said. “I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I gave everything I had. Those things I’m proud of because those are lessons I get to teach my boys and hopefully future quarterbacks.
“Now I sit here today with so much experience, so many good memories too. I text Josh McDaniels, ‘Hey, congrats on beating the Broncos, man. That’s awesome.’ He sent me a nice text back. When I left, I had a great conversation with Mark Davis. He knows at some point I’m going to be coming back. He’s like, ‘You’re always welcome.’ Once a Raider, always a Raider.”
Carr said that joining the Saints has given him a new sense of motivation.
“I get to prove myself again,” he said. “I get to prove to my teammates that they can count on me at the end of a game. I haven’t been this happy playing football in a long time.” ― Victoria Hernandez
New Orleans enters the contest as 3-point favorites, according to BetMGM.
Lorenzo Reyes: Panthers 18, Saints 17
The reason why I like the Panthers here is their pass rush. The Saints gave up four sacks and Carolina sacked Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder four times. Bryce Young is still learning, but if he limits turnovers he will give the Panthers a shot here. Still, I think there are better plays out there.
Tyler Dragon: Saints 24, Panthers 17
Rookie Bryce Young was shaky in his NFL regular-season debut. Derek Carr was steady in his Saints debut. The Saints have a better defense and a better collection of skill players on offense even without the suspended Alvin Kamara.
Victoria Hernandez: Saints 17, Panthers 10
Bryce Young will feel more comfortable at home and will have learned a lot from his NFL debut. But the Saints are more experienced and last week proved they have gelled enough to get a win.
Jordan Mendoza: Saints 27, Panthers 23
Derek Carr looks comfortable in his new home, and the defense takes advantage of Bryce Young trying to find his footing in the NFL.
Cleveland is 2.5-point favorites on the road at Pittsburgh, according to BetMGM.
Lorenzo Reyes: Steelers 21, Browns 20
Pittsburgh was arguably the worst letdown of Week 1 after a positive offseason. I think the Steelers will be much better and will bounce back. Cleveland was impressive in its opener against the Bengals, but I still think the Browns are vulnerable on offense. Look for Kenny Pickett to get George Pickens involved much earlier.
Tyler Dragon: Saints 24, Panthers 17
Rookie Bryce Young was shaky in his NFL regular-season debut. Derek Carr was steady in his Saints debut. The Saints have a better defense and a better collection of skill players on offense even without the suspended Alvin Kamara.
Victoria Hernandez: Browns 21, Steelers 17
Both teams surprised in Week 1, for quite opposite reasons. I expect the Steelers to show a little more life than their embarrassing season opener, but Cleveland's confidence will lead them to win on the road.
Jordan Mendoza: Browns 20, Steelers 16
The Browns defense didn’t let the Bengals breathe in a dominant win, while Pittsburgh was overpowered by San Francisco. Riding the momentum, Cleveland gets another divisional win thanks to its defense wrecking havoc.
ESPN is debuting a new “Monday Night Football” anthem that will lead into broadcasts, starting with the Week 2 twin bill.
Chris Stapleton, Snoop Dogg and drummer Cindy Blackman Santana cover Phil Collins’ classic song “In The Air Tonight” in an abbreviated version that will take viewers into the game's open with announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.
Stapleton croons while Snoop inserts football-centric rap verses. Blackman Santana delivers the iconic drum solo that fuels the anticipation for that evening’s games.
The artists, and the song, were chosen in light of ESPN’s creative content team’s focus-group research that revealed the “MNF” brand contains a level of nostalgia dating back to the era in which announcer Howard Cosell called the games.
For more, read Chris Bumbaca's full story on the project.
Highlighting Monday Night Football odds, the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns are among the best bets for NFL Week 2 in twin-pronged MNF action. The Saints are favored by 3 points over the Carolina Panthers, while the Browns are favored by 2.5 over the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Both favorites are the road team. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2023.
According to the top NFL betting apps, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson might not have the best NFL MVP betting odds in 2023, but he is rising. Neither of these teams are among those with the best early Super Bowl betting odds, but the season is young.
Still, a few of these teams are among the most popular NFL future bets with young quarterbacks such as Bryce Young (Carolina) and Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh) in tow.
Not interested in these games? Our guide to the NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds, Sunday Night Football odds and/or Monday Night Football odds.
If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. — Richard Morin
Week 2 in the NFL offered the opportunity for 16 teams who lost their opener to bounce back.
Some of them, like the potential Super Bowl-contending Buffalo Bills did so with efficiency in a complete takedown of the Las Vegas Raiders. Others, like the Los Angeles Chargers, wasted a stellar offensive performance, in this case from star quarterback Justin Herbert.
The defending Super Bowl-champion Chiefs were one of those teams that rebounded from a Week 1 loss, but Kansas City’s offense under reigning Most Valuable Player Patrick Mahomes has suddenly lost its punch.And then there are the Chicago Bears, who look lifeless and lost and potentially bound for big changes. — Lorenzo Reyes
The AFC is supposedly the NFL’s power conference, correct? Entering Monday, the AFC has two 2-0 teams (Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins) … while the NFC has six, the New Orleans Saints primed to make it seven Monday night. The Cleveland Browns could give the AFC a trio of 2-0s by the end of Week 2, but still not what most envisioned for the conference awash in superstar quarterbacks.
What else did Nate Davis learn during Week 2?
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